The Battle of the Alte Veste occurred from 24 to 25 August 1632 during the Thirty Years' War. The battle, fought between the Catholic commander Albrecht von Wallenstein and the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus, resulted in a draw.
Background[]
In April 1632, Albrecht von Wallenstein returned to command the Holy Roman Empire's army following Count Tilly's death at the Battle of Rain, and Wallenstein brought a 32,000-strong Imperial army from Bohemia to Eger on 1 July to join forces with Maximilian I of Bavaria's Catholic League army. Realizing that Gustavus Adolphus was a formidable commander, Wallenstein was cautious about his tactics, fearing that another defeat could be the end of the Imperial cause. Rather than face Wallenstein's larger army, Gustavus ordered a tactical retreat to Nuremberg, which was besieged by Wallenstein's army.
Battle[]
Instead of attacking the King's entrenched position, Wallenstein moved into a heavily fortified position of his own near the medieval castle of Alte Veste, felling 13,000 trees and sharpening them in order to create stakes. Imperial garrisons controlled the roads into Nuremberg while cavalry controlled the countryside, and Wallenstein sought to starve the Swedes out. The hot August weather led to the spread of rats and flies in the Imperial ranks, leading to the spread of disease. The Swedes captured a supply column, weakening the Imperial army to the point of immobility, and Wallenstein was unable to intercept a 24,000-strong Swedish relief army and their 3,000 supply wagons sent by Chancellor Axel Oxtenstierna. Soon, the two armies swelled to 43,500 Imperial troops and 44,600 Swedish troops. Swedish attempts at surprise failed, as the Imperial troops had captured the Furth river crossings, and the Swedes launched an artillery barrage across the Rednitz River. The Swedish soldiers attempted to advance uphill, but rainfall made the slopes slippery and impossible to scale. Gustavus Adolphus launched repeated assaults, and they reached the outer fortifications before Gustavus withdrew, confident that Wallenstein no longer posed a threat due to its problems with disease.